Siblings Plead Guilty for Attack Outside D.C. Courthouse

Washington,
D.C. siblings pleaded guilty today for their April attack on a federal
prosecutor and a murder victim’s daughter outside the Superior Court for
the District of Columbia, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A.
Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

Maurice Hight, 28, pleaded guilty today to one count of felony
assault on a federal official. Tiera Hight, 21, pleaded guilty today to
one count of misdemeanor assault on a federal official and one count of
misdemeanor assault in violation of District of Columbia Code.
According to admissions made in connection with their plea agreements,
on April 5, 2018, Maurice and Tiera Hight were in a courtroom in the
Superior Court for the District of Columbia waiting for a verdict
against their brother, who was being tried for murder. After the guilty
verdict, Maurice and Tiera Hight exited the courthouse and waited
outside. Several minutes later, the murder victim’s daughter exited the
courthouse, escorted by a federal prosecutor. As they approached the
street, Tiera Hight walked directly towards the pair and she and Maurice
Hight began to circle them. Tiera Hight then began to spit on the
murder victim’s daughter and physically attacked her. The federal
prosecutor intervened, but Tiera Hight continued her attack. Maurice
Hight then joined the fight, forcibly grabbing the federal prosecutor,
pulling her down and punching her in the right side of the face with a
closed fist. The federal prosecutor fell hard to the ground and
sustained swelling and bruises to her face and arm. Two deputy U.S.
Marshals in the area placed Maurice Hight under arrest, and Maurice
Hight proceeded to spit in the face of one of the deputy U.S.
Marshals.

“Our criminal justice system cannot tolerate violence against crime
victims or those entrusted with enforcing our laws,” said Assistant
Attorney General Benczkowski. “Today’s guilty pleas reinforce the
Department of Justice’s steadfast commitment to prosecuting anyone who
engages in vindictive attacks against victims of crime or federal
officials.”

The Hights will be sentenced on Dec. 18 before Senior U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman of the District of Columbia.

The Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Unit for the U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia investigated this case.
Trial Attorneys Jennifer A. Clarke and Lauren Bell of the Criminal
Division’s Public Integrity Section are prosecuting the case.